Friday, February 11, 2011

Phillies Phlashback Phriday: Satchel Paige

Yes, you read the title correctly- Satchel Paige was a Phillie. Okay, he never technically played for the Phillies, but he was in their minor league system for 3 seasons (1956-1958). If the Phils would have done the right thing and promote him, Paige would have been their 1st black player and possibly donning a Phils cap in the Hall of Fame. Instead this legend's talent was wasted toiling in the minors as a sideshow gate attraction. As many of you know, Paige was a Negro League great and didn't make his MLB debut until he was in his 40's. He's also the oldest pitcher to appear in a game at age 58. Truly remarkable.

"Bill Veeck once again came to Paige’s rescue when, after taking control of the Phillies' triple-A farm team, the Miami Marlins of the International League, he signed Paige to a contract for $15,000 and a percentage of the gate. Marlins manager Don Osborn did not want Paige and said that he would only use him in exhibition games. Veeck made a deal with Osborn that he could line up his best nine hitters, rotating them in from their positions in the field, and Veeck agreed to pay ten dollars to any of them who get a clean hit off of Paige. Paige retired all nine and Osborn agreed to make Paige a roster player. In Paige’s first game as a Marlin, he pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout. Osborn, a former minor league pitcher, taught Paige the proper way to throw a curveball, which allowed Paige to tear through the International League. Paige finished the season 11–4 with an ERA of 1.86 with 79 strikeouts and only 28 walks. This time, when Veeck left the team, Paige was allowed to stay on, for two more years.

In 1957, the Marlins finished in sixth place, but Paige had a 10–8 record with 76 strikeouts versus 11 walks and 2.42 ERA. The following year, Osborn was replaced as manager by Kerby Farrell, who was not as forgiving when it came to Paige missing curfews or workouts. He was fined several times throughout the year and finished 10–10, saying that he would not return to Miami the following season."*Courtesy of Wikipedia

6 comments:

Seriously, you write an article on Satchel Paige and don't include info on the Major League teams he played for or the fact that he was the first Negro Leagues player inducted into the 'Baseball Hall of Fame', no research as to why he was only in the Phillies minor league system and you quote Wikipedia as a source of information, you understand that Wikipedia isn't meant as a source.